Are WDW-MK and Disneyland the same?

[Hensandchickens]

We are going to be in Orlando for 3.5 days to do Discovery Cove, Sea World, and Typhoon Lagoon. I'm sure we'll hit DTD one evening. I don't know if we'll have time to go to MK, can you do it in one evening? We are going to Disneyland next year, so do we even need to go to MK? We're staying in a DL hotel and staying for 4 days. My kids are 9 and 12. I remember going to MK when I was 11 and it was really cool. I'd like my kids to experience Disney. Will we get the Disney feeling just going to Typhoon Lagoon and DTD or should we throw in a night of MK?

P.S. We are all water and sea life nuts , so that's why we're doing all the H2O activities!

TIA

 

[jaletu2000]

Hi! What a great trip you have planned! I think if you go for an evening of MK, you won't be disappointed but by no means could you see it all in an evening. Might be good to try a full day if you had the time, but just one evening might be a little steep. You can also count on some crowds in the evening for those wonderful parades.

Now I'm not trying to dissuade you in the least - I love MK too much! One hour there is fun. As for it being just like Disneyland - well, yes and no. There are some things at WDW MK that are very unique and it is a much, much bigger park. Likewise there are some things at Disneyland that are not at WDW and very unique.

Maybe you should just do your trip as planned, then go to Disneyland and enjoy all of that, and THEN plan another trip to Orlando and just do the WDW parks so you can compare! And don't forget to write a trip report for us. It's been so long since I have been to Disneyland. Personally I would love to hear all about it (and a good comparison between the parks too ).

Will you get the Disney feeling? Oh yeah. And you'll all leave wanting more!

 

[jlaspoq]

Another option would be to do one of the WDW parks other than MK.... not sure which would be the most "different" from MK, but perhaps Animal Kingdom or Epcot.

I'm sure you can find lists of attractions at both MK and DL to compare. Of course, I would have no trouble going to MK this year and DL next year!

 

[lovethattink]

There are some distinct differences between MK at DLR and WDW, however, there are many simialarities. For example, they both have POC, however the DL one is slightly different. Splash mt at DL is a single seater ride, at WDW it is a double seater. DL has the mater horn, WDW does not. If you are afraid of "repeat" attractions, you may want to think about going to a different Disney park.

 

[safetymom]

If you have been to DL you will feel at home at MK. But there are many differences between the two. It's great to go to MK and experience the atmosphere and rides and then go to DL and do the same thing.

I would schedule an evening at MK. You won't get to ride everything but you can ride quite a few. The water parks are great but that isn't what put Disney on the map.

 

[dis-happy]

MK and Disneyland are very, very similar. Main Street, the castle, the different "lands", most of the rides. You even get a few others there that you won't get at MK, like Star Tours. If you want to do a park, I would go for EPCOT and ride Mission Space! There's nothing else like it anywhere and it's wonderful. Plus so many other different things at Epcot; it's a totally different experience from D-land, but still Disney.

 

[coasterville]

No, the two parks are not identical twins.

In no way am I the expert on thins Disney, but having done both, here are a few differences:

Adventureland -
Jungle Cruise - Both
Indiana Jones - DisneyLAND only (uses similar ride system to Dinosaur at AK)
Tiki Room - I think DisneyLAND still shows the classic show, DisneyWORLD has "Under new management" with Iago and Zazu
Treehouses - DisneyLAND is themed to Tarzan, DisneyWORLD is themed to Swiss Family Robinson
Pirates of the Carinean - both parks have, but DisneyLANDs is much better and is located in their New Orlleans Square section.
Flying Carpets - DisneyWORLD only

Fronterland -
Big Thunder Mountain - both parks
Tom Sawyer Island - both parks
Country Bear Jamboree - DisneyWORLD only
Shooting Gallery - both parks

Liberty Square (DisneyWORLD, New Orleans Square (DisneyLAND)
Haunted Mansion - both houses are slightly different
Hall of Presidents - DisneyWOLRD only - (DisneyLAND has Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln on Main Street)
Riverboats - both parks, though DisneyLAND also has the sailing ship Columbia
Fantasmic! - DisneyLAND only, (it's located at Disney Studios in Florida)

Critter Country - DisneyLAND only, star attraction is Splash Mountain which is also at DisneyWORLD in Frontierland.

Fantasyland - this is where DisneyLAND shines
Small World - much better at DisneyLAND
Carousel - both parks
Mad Tea Party - both parks
Dumbo - both parks
Peter Pan - both parks
Snow White - both parks
Pinochio (as a ride) - DisneyLAND only
Mr. Toads Wild Ride - DisneyLAND only
Alice in Wonderland - DisneyLAND only
Casey Jr. Circus Train - DisneyLAND only
Storybook Land Canal Boats - DisneyLAND only
Sleeping Beauty walk-through - DisneyLAND only
Matterhorn Mountain - DisneyLAND only
(note: I think Disneyland added Winnie the Pooh since my visit, I don't know if that replaced one of the rides listed above)
Winnie the Pooh - both parks
Mickey's Phillharmagic - DisneyWORLD only

Toontown
Both toontowns are vastly different, while both offer character meet and greets, and a kiddie coaster (themed to Go-Gadget in DisneyLAND, and Goofy's Barnstormer in DisneyWORLD), DisneyLAND offers Roger Rabbits Cartoon Spin which is not offered in DisneyWORLD)

Tommorowland
Race Car Ride - Indy Speedway at DisneyWORLD, Autopia in DisneyLAND
Tommorowland Transit Authoirty - DisneyWORLD only
Inovations - DisneyLAND only (located at EPCOT in Flordia)
Carousel of Progress - DisneyWORLD only
Honey I Shrunk the Audience - DisneyLAND only (located at EPCOT in Florida)
Star Tours - DisneyLAND only - (located at Studios in Florida)
Space Mountain - Two diffferent rides, one at each park, similar but different
Astro Orbiter - both parks, thogh WORLD's is mounted on top of Rockettower Plaza, and LAND's is ground level
Buzz Lightyears Space Ranger SPin - DisneyWORLD only
Stitch's Great Escape - DisneyWORLD only
Timekeeper - DisneyWORLD only
Monorail - Tommrowland ride at DisneyLAND, transportation from parking lot to park at DisneyWORLD.

Main Street - similar but different, has Great Moments with Mr.. Lincoln at DisneyLAND only. Also DisneyLAND may still have its cinema open, i'm not sure.

Both parks have a train ride around the park, stops

WORLD - Main Street, Frontierland, Toontown
LAND - Main Street, New Orleans Square, Toontown (?), Tommorowland, has the Primevil and Grand Canyon dioramas at DisneyLAND only.

Both offer Fastpass

Feel free to correct me memory!

 

[SoCalKDG]

The above very nicely covers most of the info. Some additional notes:

Jungle Cruise is much better at WDW, as is Splash mountain(sitting side by side at WDW is great).

Buzz Lightyear opens in March at DL. Space Mountain doesn't reopen until late July.

I also expect DL to be very crowded this year, as its DL 50th party, not WDW.

 

[Hensandchickens]

You guys are the greatest! Wow, great information! My DD really wants to go to Epcot, but I thought it looked boring (sorry). Maybe we will try to do that or just save it all for another trip. This info has eased my guilty mind, that my kids are missing out by not going to MK. Thanks so much!

 

[lovethattink]

If you choose to do PM, there are so many things for the kids to do. One Sunday after church we went to Innoventions. We spent our entire time at Innoventions, there was that much to do!

 

[jenningspaige]

Correction to the list above--Disneyland has the country bear jamboree, and they also have Winnie the Pooh ride, but it's extra (didn't replace anything)

 

[LeftCoaster]

Correction to the list above--Disneyland has the country bear jamboree, and they also have Winnie the Pooh ride, but it's extra (didn't replace anything)

Nope. Disneyland replaced the Country Bear Jamboree with Winnie The Pooh.

 

[jenningspaige]

GASP! You're kidding me! lol. I thought they just put it next to it! Oh, bad move, Disneyland!

 

[Tigrrtum]

If you like the underwater world, EPCOT would be an excellent choice for you and your family because they have the "Living Seas" pavilion and, even tho' it is not as nice as it once was, it would be a very special visit for you, and besides, EPCOT tends to be open later than any of the other parks most of the year.

Would not hurt to do both MK and DL, there is enough differance, as said above, the only issue with MK is the amount of time it takes, MK is BIG!! All of DL would fit into MK's Tomorrowland!